Transmitting system



F. w. JACKSON TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Nov; 25, 1941 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 27, 1934 Patented Nov. 25, 1941 TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Frank W. Jackson, Chicago, 111., assignor to S. H. Couch Company In c., North Quincy, Mass.

Continuation of abandoned application Serial No.

717,607, March 27, 1934. This application November 21, 1939, Serial No. 305,442

6 Claims.

This is a continuation of my abandoned copending application Serial No. 717,607.

The present invention relates to electrical calling systems and more particularly to automatically controlled call and paging apparatus that is normally maintained in a dormant condition but which is immediately rendered responsive to a call setting under the control of a switchboard operator.

It is contemplated, in accordance with the provisions of this system, to be able to toll call signals in predetermined combinations or permutations, which signals may be made audible throughout a plant or factory site and to indicate thereby to certain individuals, each in accord-. ance with a call designated to him, certain predetermined information such as, for example, that the presence of an individual whose call is being tolled is requested.

In addition to the apparatus provided for attaining the foregoing object, certain other auxiliary apparatus is provided with the present system for attaining other objects in addition to the foregoing, such as, for example, for announcing general alarm signals, dismissal signals, and the like.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a call system for issuing paging signals, dismissal signals, and general alarm signals, and for providing means in association with the system.

In accordance with the following description, the features of this invention will be described in contemplation of the certain objects set forth, though it will be evident that in accordance with the novel provisions thereof, many other and equally important objects may be obtained not specifically contemplated.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, there is provided a switchboard and a plurality of switch elements illustrated in the accompanying drawings as co-operating jack and plug members. Each jack is labeled with an indicia corresponding to the signal which it is adapted to control. When a plug is inserted into one of these jacks, a corresponding one or ones of a plurality of contacts is opened, setting up a condition among a series of tolling circuits whereby various paths are established or prepared, while at the same time an operating motor is started. The motoris designed to rotate a drum member upon the periphery of which are carried a plurality of projections staggered progressively thereon and successively brought into,

co-operation with an associated wiper or contact blade.

As each projection engages its associated contact blade, the aforedescribed prepared circuits are closed, causing to be energized one or more toll sounding bells located at various points throughout the area to be served by the system. As long as the particular jack is in the operated position, the operating motor continues to drive the coding drum, causing the signal to be repeated until the plug is removed. The coding drum is provided with the projections as aforedescribed, arranged in a certain spaced relationship so as to permit of a measured time interval between successive toll signals. The relationship is governed by the speed of rotation of the coding drum, but more generally by the frequency of operation that is most easily comprehensive, or in other words, where the signals are made upof certain combinations of numbers the tolling frequency is preferably governed by a speed sumciently great enough to attain the desired object in as short a space of time as possible, yet slow enough so that the number of toll signals as well as the relationship of several sets of toll signals where combinations of them are designated as predetermined signals may be easily comprehended by untrained ears with suflicient certainty, and so as to avoid confusion of signals.

In addition to the aforementioned projections on the coding drum, there are also certain auxiliary projections provided arranged in rapid succession, which projections function to inaugurate special signals and such as may be distinguished from the coding signals and such as may be identified in accordance with predetermined arrange ments for the purpose of dismissal, fire alarm, and the like.

Since it may be desirable, under certain conditions, to supersede certain ones of said signals already in the progress of transmission with other ones either specifically or in accordance with their class, the system is provided with means whereby, upon the inauguration of those signals whose importance is paramount, that the preceding signals may be at once suspended and whereby the more important signals may be inaugurated without further delay or without having to await the completion of said other ones of said signals whose order of priority is secondary.

For a better understanding of this invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings and to the following detailed description illustrating an embodiment of the invention. In

characters may be taken to represent corresponding parts in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows one form which the apparatus may take illustrating schematically contact elements and circuit connections. Figure 2 shows a circuit diagram for the complete system. Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view taken approximately on line 33 of Figure 1 illustrating the peripheral arrangement of the contacts on the coding drum, Figure 4 shows an elevation of the switch board corresponding to the corresponding elements indicated in Figure 2 and Figure 5 shows a detail. 3

The drawings of the present inventionshow a system embracing a limited number of code signals for the sake of simplifying the invention to make it more readily understood. 'Itmay be appreciated however that the same system may be extended to a greater number of calling signals or may embrace a fewer number if that is desired.

In the drawings in Figures 2 and'4 the codes are each represented by their corresponding number. For instance the code numbered I will produce one stroke of the bell or one continued short ring, depending upon the type of bell desired. The code numbered 2 will give two rings separated by a suitable space and so 'on for the cod numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6. The code number 12 is produced by a single ring marking the number 1 followed by a longer space than between the ri'ngs for marking the count for the individual digit after which two short rings are produced indicating the number 2, thus making l and 2, or 12. With the connections indicated in Figure'sj2 and 4, it is possible to produce 20 individual numbers by single operations of the switch board H of Figure 4. The functioning of this switch board in connection with the diagram of Figure 2 will be explained in detail below.

1 In Figure 4 the numbers I, 2, a: and so forth corresponding to the numbers I, '2, 3 and so forth of Figure 2 are printed or engraved on the switch board beside the correspondent switch'ja'ck to be operated. When the plug is placed in any one of the switch jacks 42 (see Figure 5) on the switch .board 11, it operates to open some normally closed contacts 68, I0, 12, 13, etc, and to close one normally open contact, 69 for instance, for the purpose of producing the proper c'o'de signal. The switch for this purpose maybe of the type commonly used in the telephone art wherein a jack T50 entering'the socket separates the closed contacts of the switch 68 against the pressure of,

,springs I5l, and at the same time bridges with which contact studs are so connected to the conducting rings '54 and 55 through'the connecting lines 56 and 52 and 53 respectively. A brush 5'! takes the current from the collector ring 54 and a brush 58 from the collector ring 55 whichring is split at a point that corresponds'to the starting operation for the system. 'At the lower end of the drum (3 as'shown inFig'ure 2 are a group of contacts '59 spaced more closely together than the space between the contacts 44, 45, 46 etc. all of which are uniformly spaced. The mechanical arrangement of the code drum and the operating contacts are indicated in Figure 1. In this figure is will be noted that there is provided a motor 60 which drives through a reduction gear 6| the code drum 43. On the code drum shaft 62 are mounted the conducting rings 54 and 55 which are connected as has been previously described. It should be remembered that all of the contacts on the code drum are connected to the conductor 56 and therefore to both collector rings 54 and 55. The power for the system may be supp-lied from a single source 63 and may operate a single bell 64 or any other type of signal device or extra bells as indicated by the lines 65 and the legends upon it. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, two additional switches may be used, 66 for the purpose of operating a dismissal signal and the switch 6'! for operating a watchman signal. The dismissal sighal operated by the switch G B closes the circuit for the signal hell 'or alarm through the contacts 59 as will be explained later, thus producing a grouper rings or signals closely following one another. The watchman signal operated by closing the switch -El completes the signal or bell circuit through all of the contacts 44 to 5| inclusive, thus operating the signal bell successively in time intervals considerably greater than those of the contacts 59 thereby producing a signal which may be clearly distinguished from the dismissal signal.

In Figure 2 the dotted line under the code numbers 1, 2, 3, 'etc., indicate the contacts operated by each plug, the X marking the contacts which are normally closed and opened by the plug, and the circle indicating the normally opened contacts which are closed by the plug. Under the number of the code 1 the insertion of the plug opens the contact 68 and closes contact 6 9. The plug for the code 2 opens the contact 1 0 and closes the contact H. For numbers 1 to 6 inclusive, only one contact each is opened,

' '68, T0, 12, I3, 14, 1'5 respectively. For the numbers in the tens, two sets of contacts are opened by the code for each plug and these are the greatest numbers that are opened for any of the 'si'gnals desired. Electrical connections on the drum are made by the brushes Hi, 11, 18, 19, 80, 8|, 82, 83 and 84 to which respectively are connected the conductors 86,81, '88, 89, 90, 9|, 92, '93 and 94; These conductor-s go to the jacks on the switch board-H of Figure 4. As indicated in Figure 2, the line 81 passes successively through 5 plugs, the line 88 through 6 plugs, the line 89 through 5 plugs, theli -ne 9 0 through 4, 9| through 4, 92 through5 and 93 through 3. With this small number of contacts, 32 in all, twenty diiierent codes can be signaled. h

All of the contact brushes 16-83 inclusive are connected to a common lead 95 and each conductor 81-53 inclusive .is connected to the preceding-numbered conductor, the conductor 81 being connected in a similar manner to the conductor 86. It will also be noted that in this arrangement that any code number which begins with a 1 has a normally closed contact to .be opened in contacts for numbers 4 and -41 "to beopened in the 5th line, namely "95. In the wiring arrangement these contacts provide the location for the first digits of the numbers. The second digits of the numbers are arranged in accordance with the position of the first digits of the numbers. For instance the number I2 has the normally closed contacts positioned at A and B in Figure 2 separated by two conductors 88 and 89. The number I3 has its contacts A and B separated by three conductors 88, 89 and 99 and the number l4 by four conductors 88, B9, 90 and 9|, and I5 by five conductors, 88, 89, 99, 9| and 92. .It will be noted that this arrangement holds for the entire code. For instance suppose the plug I2 is inserted in the opening contactsin the I2 line A and B. As the code wheel 43 rotates, the line 86 will be energized when the contact 16 passes over its drum contact 44. The line 81 which would be energized next after 85, is not energized since the contact A is opened thereby making a pause and completing for the first digit. Following this, lines 83 and 89 are energized producing the digit 2 after which no further signal is produced since the entire chain is broken by the opening of the contact B in the line 90. For

example another number will be taken to indicate that the same procedure holds. Take for instance number 25. The energizing of the two lines 86 and 81 will produce the digit 2, following which a break occurs in the contact A line 83, then the next five lines 89, 90, 9I, 92 and 93 will produce five rings producing the digit 5. It will be noted that in the case of the number 25, the opening of only one line is needed which produces a break between a ring of 2 and a ring of 5, thus involving all of the eight lines in the system. No number requires more than two contacts to be broken, the first, after the first group of rings, and the second after the second group of rings, providing not all of the eight lines are used. Except for the first six numbers, therefore, the two digit numbers totaling seven, namely the numbers 25 and 34 require only a single contact to be broken, all of the other numbers requiring two contacts to be broken. The circuit arrangement may be analyzed in a difierent manner. The system as indicated in Figure 2 is an eight system. This is minimum sum computed on the basis of the sum of the digits of any code number plus the space in between which must equal the number of conducting lines. All of these lines are connected to a single outlet conductor, namely 95 and a single inlet conductor 56. Each of these lines is successively energized by the code drum at one end permanently connected to the single line 95 at the other end through the normally closed switch contacts. The lines are connected together at this latter end in such a manner that the code will be represented by a parallel group of closed lines designating the first digit, an open parallel line to designate the space between the digits, a second series of closed lines corresponding to the second digit followed by a series of open lines if this is necessary for producing the code number. In this arrangement the last contact opened opens all the other lines of the system. For instance, the contact B in the I2 plug opens the lines 9|, 92 and 93, the contact B in the I3 plug opens the lines 92 and 93, the contact 68 in the one plug opens all of the lines on the 85 lines. It will be seen therefore that the last contact to be opened in the number must be a contact in series with all of the following lines and the line 95 and the same holds also for numbers that have only a single contact plug which numbers are I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 25 and 34. a 7

As the drum 43 rotates and the desired contacts are made on it a circuit is completed for energizing the bell as follows. Starting with the supply 63, the circuit may be traced over the line 96, the brush 51, the ring 54, the conductors 52, 56, the contact drum, one of the lines from the contact drum to the conductor 95 to the relay contact 91, the lead 98, the bell 64 and the return line 99 to the supply 63. The system is set in operation for ringing in code as has been set forth above by the placing of the plug in the desired jack. This opens the X contacts corresponding to the code number and closes the desiredO contact as for instance 69, H, I etc.

The closing of the 0 contact energizes the motor in the following manner. This circuit may be traced from the supply 63 through the motor 69, the line H, the 0 contact I09 .etc., the return conductor I92, and the return to the supply 96. The motor will continue to rotate while the jack is in position in the chosen code number called. When this is removed the motor still will continue to rotate until the brush 58 has come to a position opposite the break in the ring 55, for until that time the motor circuit is completed in the following manner to wit: Starting at the supply 63, the circuit may be traced through the motor 65, the line IOI, the brush 58, the ring 55 (until the circuit is broken), the conductor 53, the conductor 52, the ring 54, the brush 51 and the conductor 96. The motor stops when the brush 58 goes opposite the opening in the ring 55, thus leaving the code drum in a starting position.

The system in addition to the above provides a watchmans signal and a dismissal signal. The dismissal signal is operated by the switch 66 which closes a circuit through the relay I93 thus drawing up the armature I64 and breaking the contacts 91 but making the contacts I05 and I96. The making of the contact I closes the motor circuit as is seen by tracing the following circuit: the supply 63, the motor 69, the line IN, the contact I95 now closed, the line I92 and the line 99 to the supply source.

The bell circuit is also closed through the closely spaced contacts in the following manner, The supply 63, the line 96, the brush 51, the ring 54, the conductors 52 and 56, the contacts 59, brush 94, line 94, contacts I96, line 93, bell 64, line 99 to the supply source. This rings in accordance with the closed position of th contact points 59 rapid signals on the bell. When the dismissal signal switch is opened the motor will continue to function as has been explained before until the open ring 55 has its opening position opposite the brush 58 so that the drum again goes to rest in a position to be operated again.

The watchman signal is given by closing the switch 51 which energizes the motor in a circuit commencing at the supply 63 going through the motor 69, the line I9I, the switch 61, the line I92 and the line 95 to the supply source. As the motor rotates and turns the drum, the line 95 will be energized as each of the brushes 16 to 83 inclusive comes in contact with the correspondin contacts on the drum. 7

As has been stated above these series of rings are spaced further apart than the rings produced by the contacts 59 and this therefore distinguishes the watchmans signal from the dismissal signal.

It should be noted in the arrangement of Figure 2 that when the dismissal signal is used.

2,263,877 es of different predetermined connection lines,

said last two means including means for simultaneously commencing the transmission of the selected number.

5. In a variable transmitter for transmitting electrical impulses, each impulse corresponding to a unit making up predetermined one or two digit numbers, the digits of the two numbers being separated by uniform spaces, a series of spaced contacts, means sequentially energizing the contacts of the series at uniform spaced time intervals, a direct connection line from the contact at one end of the series to the output of the transmitter, separate connection lines for each of the rest of the contacts of the series, each one of said connection line connected at one end to one of said contacts, and each connected at the other end to the previous connection line of the series, each of said connection lines, except the connection line connected to the transmitter, including a plurality of normally closed switches, the point of connection of each connection line to the previous connection lin being between the location of the normally closed switches in each connection line, means corresponding to the predetermined single digit numbers for opening selected single switches in predetermined lines, and means corresponding to predetermined two digit numbers for opening one switch or a combination of two switches of difierent predetermined connection lines.

6. In a variable transmitter for transmitting electrical impulses, each impulse corresponding to a unit making up a predetermined number of not more than two digits, the digits of the two numbers being separated by uniform spaces, a series of spaced contacts, means sequentially energizing the contacts of the series at uniform spaced time intervals, a direct connection from the last contact of the series to the output of the transmitter, separate connection lines each having one end connected to the other contacts of the series, each of said connection lines including a plurality of normally closed switches and each of said connection lines beginning with the connection line for the first contact of the series having its other end connected to a point in the succeeding connection line, at least some of said points being located between the plurality of switches in said connection line, and means corresponding to the predetermined numbers for opening one or more selected switches in predetermined connection lines whereby the predetermined number is selected.

FRANK W. JACKSON. 

